164 J. Delacour—Notes of a Bircl-lover in Tropical America


forest. There are also emerald-spotted and Cayenne Tanagers, whilst

Humming-birds mingle amongst them and attack them.


Passing through the jungle, one surprises on the tops of the trees

flocks of Paradise Tanagers ( Calliste paradisea), whose colours of

scintillating cerulean blue and emerald green are further enhanced

by a back of brilliant orange gold.


Round the scarlet sprays of the blossoms of an enormous “ vine ”

the Topaz Humming-birds buzz ; a splendid species almost as large as

a small Swallow. The red, yellow, and green hues, iridescent and

metallic in the male with his lyre-shaped tail feathers ; the golden

green colouring of the female ; their activity and their lightning-like

movements make up a picture which enchants and astonishes. One

never sees more than one couple at a time, for any intruders are driven

away with sharp cries. Indeed, the Topaz Humming-birds bully all

other birds The smaller species frequent the lower parts of the jungle.

The colonies of Cassiques are numerous round the camps and along

the creeks ; they prefer tall, isolated trees in which to suspend their

long, purse-like nests, and it is not uncommon to see trees containing

a hundred.


Save for these noisy gatherings of birds silence generally reigns in

the forest. Only the Cotingas break the calm with their strange and

resounding calls. The magnificent blue Cotingas, whose plumage is

brilliant ultramarine satin with rich purple breast, and the curious

Pompadour, claret coloured and white, are not very noisy, but “ the

bird my father ” ( Calvifrons) lows like a cow. The Attila endlessly

repeats an unfinishing and irritating song ; the white Bell-bird makes

the forest resound with his sonorous gong, which cry can be heard at

several miles’ distance, and as for the call of the Laihrea , it strikes the

traveller with wonder and astonishment.


In the solitary silence of the jungle, a piercing whistle rings out,

after a kind of raucous coo : “ R-roo—R-roo.” “ Pi-pi-pi-yo.” It

is a whistle which almost tears the drum of the ear ; another bird

answers in the distance, and the cry resounds once more from the

same spot, to be taken up by others in their turn, and for hours the

deafening concert continues.


It is difficult to make out the authors of this tumult of sound;



